Russia's Massive Strike on Ukraine's Power Grid; Kyiv Hits Back at Russian Refinery

Russia launched a large-scale, multi-wave attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Tuesday, knocking out power across many regions with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, just a week before US-brokered peace talks are set to resume.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that Russia deployed 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles, targeting power plants and substations from the southern port of Odesa to the western city of Rivne. The strikes forced power outages in the capital Kyiv and at least six other regions, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said three of its five thermal power plants were taken offline. Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi noted that railways were also hit, damaging passenger carriages, locomotives, and a train station. Zelenskiy called for additional air defenses, saying, "It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections. The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped."

Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its troops struck Ukrainian electricity facilities in several regions that supply power to military factories and the Ukrainian army. Meanwhile, Russian officials said Ukraine had set fire to a major oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl in an overnight drone attack.

The attacks come as both sides prepare for trilateral peace talks with the United States next week in Abu Dhabi, the first such meeting since February. Zelenskiy has said that discussions on a proposed energy ceasefire would be high on Ukraine's agenda.

Over more than four years of war, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy system, destroying generation, distribution, and heating facilities, with attacks intensifying as winter approaches. Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian oil refineries this year. US President Donald Trump announced in September and October that both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy targets, though neither side confirmed this. Trump has largely criticized only Ukraine for continuing its strikes on Russia, while saying Russia's behavior has been "fine."